Toy building kit

ABSTRACT

A toy building kit includes one or more strip-shaped track members each having an upper and a lower side. A plurality of building blocks are provided some of which have male coupling means and others of which have mating female coupling means. Connecting means is provided for connecting the track member or members with the building blocks in such a manner that some of the building blocks are located at the upper side and others of the building blocks are located at the lower side of the track member with the male and female coupling means of the blocks located at the upper and lower sides being in coupling engagement. The track member then extends laterally of the thus connected building blocks.

Fischer s] 3,645,035 Feb. 29, 1972 [54] TOY BUILDING KIT Artur Fischer, Altheimer Strasse 219, 7241 Tumlingen, Germany [22] Filed: Nov. 28, 1969 [21] Appl.No.: 880,549

[72] Inventor:

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 30, 1968 Germany ..P 18 11 940.9

- 521 U.S.Cl .Q ..46/17 [51] Int. Cl. ..A63h 33/06 [58] Field of Search ..46/25, 17, 18, 23, 24, 26, 46/30, 31

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,863,995 6/1932 Ponstingl ..46/25 X 2,150,707 3/1939 Anderson 2,226,560 12/1940 Hedrich 2,472,363 6/1949 Blackinton ..46/ 25 3,080,674 3/1963 Amici ..46/25 3,148,477 9/1964 Bjorn et al. ...46/2S X 3,484,983 12/1969 Fischer ..46/25 X Primary ExaminerLouis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-D. L. Weinhold Attorney-Michael S. Striker 57 ABSTRACT A toy building kit includes one or more strip-shaped track members each having an upper and a lower side. A plurality of building blocks are provided some of which have male coupling means and others of which have mating female coupling means. Connecting means is provided for connecting the track member or members with the building blocks in such a manner that some of the building blocks are located at the upper side and others of the buildingblocks are located at the lower side of the track member with the male and female coupling means of the blocks located at the upper and lower sides being in coupling engagement. The track member then extends laterally of the thus connected building blocks.

11 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures Patented Feb. 29, 1 972, 3,645,035-

Inventor:

41mm FKCHE/L TOY BUILDING KIT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a toy building kit, and more particularly to a toy building kit with vehicle tracks.

It is known to provide toy building kits which are composed of building blocks provided with suitable coupling means, frequently undercut cooperating male and female coupling portions, so that they can be connected in order to construct various toy items, including toy vehicles. In order to increase the versatility of such kits it is desirable that it be possible to erect or construct with these kits not only toy vehicles but also tracks on which these toy vehicles may move, and by which they may be guided, so that by means of the tracks race courses, streets, highways or the like for vehicles may be constructed, simulating the actual conditions which the child can observe. However, to permit the erection of such tracks, as they will hereafter be called for the sake of simplicity, should desirably be possible without having to modify the already known or existing toy building kitswhich are otherwise fully satisfactory-to any significant extent. This means that a toy building kit according to the aforementioned requirement should be suitable for the erection of such tracks by utilizing the components normally provided in the known toy building kits, and in addition such other components as may be needed for providing the track construction but which must be compatible with the other components of the kit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide a toy building kit having the aforementioned features and advantages.

In pursuance with this object, and others which will become apparent hereafter, my invention resides in a toy building kit which comprises, briefly stated, at least one elongated stripshaped track member having an upper and a lower side, and a plurality of building blocks. Male coupling means are provided on at least some first ones of these building blocks and mating female coupling means are provided on at least some second ones thereof. Connecting means are provided for connecting the track member with at least one of the first and at least one of the second building blocks whose coupling means are in mating engagement with the building blocks being respectively located at the upper and lower sides and with the track member extending laterally of the thus connected building blocks.

' lower building blocks also provide a support for a structure By constructing the kit according to the present invention it v is not necessary to provide specific coupling elements on the track member or track members, nor is it necessary to provide such coupling meanson the building blocks specifically for connecting the track member thereto. In addition, it is clear that in this manner it is possible to utilize a toy building kit provided with the aforementioned male and female coupling means and to combine it readily with a track member as set forth above, without having to make any changes in the building blocks themselves, or at least without having to make any significant changes which would reduce their universal applicability for construction of all types of elements rather than restricting them to the construction only of a track for vehicles. At the upper side of the track member it is possible to arrange racks provided with either male or female coupling means, and the engagement of the male and female coupling means of whatever type or configuration of building blocks are located above and below-that is at the upper and lower sides-of the track member, may be effected through apertures provided in the track member itself. In effect, therefore, the track member is clamped or retained between the building blocks located at the upper side and those located-at the lower side of the track member. However, the track member may also be in form of two discrete'strips, which are extended parallel with one another and whose inner marginal portions which face one another may be clamped in this manner between the upper and lower building blocks. of course, the

erected in this manner, and may be utilized for coupling this structure with other structures erected with additional building blocks, for instance bridges or the like. The track member or track members-whetlier it be of one piece as far as its width is concerned, or whether it be of two or more stripshaped parallel sections which are discrete, may be composed of brass or aluminum sheet metal or the like. Of course, synthetic plastic is also suitable, as are other materials. If rack means is desired to be provided at the upper side of the track member, such rack means may extend over the entire length of the track member or may be in discontinuous sections.

If the male and female coupling means are of undercut type, that is if they are undercut projections and undercut grooves in which the projections are matingly receivable, it is advantageous that the surfaces of the building blocks which will face one another when they are connected so as to constitute upper and lower building blocks located at the upper and lower sides of the track member, are provided with recesses whose depth in direction normal to the plane of these surfaceswhich normally abut one another when the coupling means are in mating connectionis such that the track member orthe discrete strips on which the track member is composed may be in part received in these recesses and clamped therein. The reason for this is that with undercut coupling means of this type there is no latitude as to distance between which the facing juxtaposed surfaces of two thus-coupled building blocks can be spaced from one another. Therefore, the spacing between these surfaces-which latter will ordinarily be in abutment with one anothercannot be increased to permit the insertion of the track member or strips constituting the track member between them. If for this reason it is necessary to provide these recesses which are not required if the'coupling means isof other type, for instance in form of cylindrical bores or recesses and cylindrical pins receivable in them. The recesses provided if the building blocks utilize mating male and female coupling means of the undercut type, do not in any way reduce the versatility of these building blocks.

In this latter type of construction, where male and female undercut coupling members are provided, it is also advantageous to increase the depth of these recesses at one or at both opposite longitudinal ends of the respective building blocksthat is at least of some of the building blocks of the kit-to a depth corresponding to twice the thickness of the track member, so that if the track member consists of sections which must be longitudinally connected, and portions of these sections can be overlapped and received in these portions of increased depth of the recesses and thus be connected with one another. This increase in the depth of the recesses need by provided on only relatively few of the building blocks because the number of building blocks necessary for this particular purpose is relatively small as compared to the number of total constituent building blocks in the kit, this being commensurate with the fact that there are comparatively small overlapping junctions to be provided. It is furthermore advantageous to provide such recesses in those building blocks which will normally be located at the upper side of the track member when the latter is used in conjunction with the building blocks to construct a track. These particular building blockswill ordinarily be in form of rack members-or be constituted as guide elements which guide a vehicle whose wheels contact the track member at opposite lateral sides of the building-blocks, and on building blocks used for this purpose these recesses are not at all disadvantageous. Naturally, rack members which are provided may have only one exposed surface formedwith teeth, or they may have two or all exposed surfaces formed with rows of teeth, depending upon particular requirements. Such rack members may be utilized for constructing a track of a cog-wheel railroad or the like, where a gearon the vehicle cooperateswith the teeth on the rack. When not in usein this manner, however, they can also be utilized asracks on other models. I

It is further possible to make the track member of electrically conductive material, particularly if it consists of two or more discrete strips. This material may be metallic or it may be a conductive plastic. Alternately one or more electrically conductive contact elements may be secured to the building blocks located at the upper side of the track member. In either case, a current-receiving contact of an electrically driven vehicle may be in engagement with the electrically conductive component so that the vehicle in this manner receives electrical power, with the component of course being connected to a suitable source of electrical energy.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best'understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary partly sectioned perspective view showing a portion of a track erected with a toy building kit according to the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a detail view showing an embodiment of a building block in a toy kit according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing now the drawing in detail it will be seen that the track member in this embodiment is in form of two discrete track member strips 1 and 2 which are transversely spaced from one another. Provided at the upper side of the thus-provided composite track member consisting of the strips 1 and 2 is a building block 3 which is provided with a row of teeth 4 and thus can serve as a rack or the like. This building block 3 has an undercut male coupling projection S which extends through the gap between the transversely spaced track member strips 1 and 2 and is matingly received in an undercut female coupling groove 6 of a building block 7 located below the track member consisting of the strips 1 and 2. Thus, portions of the strips 1 and 2 are frictionally retained by clamping between the building blocks 3 and 7. If desired, the contacting surface portions of the strip members 1, 2 and/or the building blocks 3 and 7 may be provided with suitably roughened texture, for instance projections, shallow ridges or the like to further enhance the retentive capability of the clamping action between the building blocks 3 and 7 upon the track member strips 1 and 2. Evidently, the transversely spaced wheels of a vehicle (not illustrated) may now move along the track member strips 1 and 2 and the upper building block 3 serves as a guide rail to prevent the vehicle from leaving the track.

The track member strips 1 and 2, or the track member consisting of a single element, are of relatively thin construction so that it may be flexed and bent upwardly and downwardly with respect to the general plane of its upper surface to thereby permit the simulation of upgrades and downgrades. Furthermore, by so constructing the track member it is possible to twist it with respect to its own longitudinal axis to thereby obtain grooves which are banked" as is the case with actual road constructions. The building blocks located below the track member do not interfere with such deflecting of the track member if they are provided only at the longitudinal juncture of sections of the track member or at a comparatively few locations between such junctures.

Of course it will be appreciated that while FIG. 1 shows only one upper and one lower building block 3, 7 respectively, there will be others provided and that while FIG. 1 shows only a part of one length each of the track member strips 1, 2 there will ordinarily be a plurality oi'such lengths provided.

To permit the connection of such lengths where their longitudinal end portions must be secured to one another, I have provided in FIG. 2 a building block 3 which corresponds substantially to the one illustrated in FIG. 1. However, while the former is provided with the recesses 3a extending along its lateral peripheries and in which corresponding marginal portions of the track member strips 1 and 2 are clampingly received as shown in FIG. I, the building block 3 in FIG. 2 is provided adjacent one or both of its ends (only one shown) with a deeper recess 9 whose depth is so selected that it can accommodate the overlapping end portions of two consecutive track member strips. This recess 9 merges into the recess 8 which corresponds to the recesses 3a shown in the building block 3 ofFIG. 1.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a toy building kit, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omittingfeatures that, from the standpoint of prior art fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic orspecific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

1. Toy building kit, comprising a plurality of building blocks; male coupling means provided on at least some first ones of said building blocks; mating female coupling means provided on at least some second ones of said building blocks; at least one elongated strip-shaped track member having an upper and a lower side and being provided with at least one gap dimensioned for passage of at least some of said coupling means therethrough; and connecting means for connecting said track member with at least one of said first and at least one of said second building blocks whose coupling means are in mating engagement, with said building blocks being respectively located at said upper and lower sides and with said track member extending laterally of said building blocks.

2. Toy building kit as defined in claim I, wherein said track member comprises two strip sections having juxtaposable edge faces which together define said gap dimensioned for passage therethrough of said coupling means on said building blocks.

3. Toy building kit as defined in claim 1, wherein said male and female coupling means are undercut coupling projections and undercut coupling grooves, respectively.

4. Toy building kit as defined in claim 2, said one first and said one second building block having respective surfaces which abut one another at least in part when said male and female coupling means are in mating engagement; and wherein said connecting means comprises lateral surface por tions of said surfaces, and marginal portions of said strip sections located adjacent said edge faces of the latter and being frictionally retained between and in engagement with said lateral surface portions.

5. Toy building kit as defined in claim 4, wherein said lateral surface portions of at least one of said surfaces are recessed in direction normal to the general plane of the respective surface by a predetermined depth at most approaching the thickness of said marginal portions of said strip sections.

6. Toy building kit as defined in claim 4, said building blocks having opposite end portions, and wherein said recesses have a depth substantially double said predetermined depth in the region of at least one of said end portions.

7. Toy building kit as defined in claim 1, wherein said track member is flexible.

8. Toy building kit as defined in claim 1, wherein said track member consists at least in part of electrically conductive material.

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lL Toy building kit as defined in claim I; and further comprising at least one electrical conductor on at least one of said building blocks located at said upper and lower sides, respectively.

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1. Toy building kit, comprising a plurality of building blocks; male coupling means provided on at least some first ones of said building blocks; mating female coupling means provided on at least some second ones of said building blocks; at least one elongated strip-shaped track member having an upper and a lower side and being provided with at least one gap dimensioned for passage of at least some of said coupling means therethrough; and connecting means for connecting said track member with at least one of said first and at least one of said second building blocks whose coupling means are in mating engagement, with said building blocks being respectively located at said upper and lower sides and with said track member extending laterally of said building blocks.
 2. Toy building kit as defined in claim 1, wherein said track member comprises two strip sections having juxtaposable edge faces which together define said gap dimensioned for passage therethrough of said coupling means on said building blocks.
 3. Toy building kit as defined in claim 1, wherein said male and female coupling means are undercut coupling projections and undercut coupling grooves, respectively.
 4. Toy building kit as defined in claim 2, said one first and said one second building block having respective surfaces which abut one another at least in part when said male and female coupling means are in mating engagement; and wherein said connecting means comprises lateral surface portions of said surfaces, and marginal portions of said strip sections located adjacent said edge faces of the latter and being frictionally retained between and in engagement with said lateral surface portions.
 5. Toy building kit as defined in claim 4, wherein said lateral surface portions of at least one of said surfaces are recessed in direction normal to the general plane of the respective surface by a predetermined depth at most approaching the thickness of said marginal portions of said strip sections.
 6. Toy building kit as defined in claim 4, said building blocks having opposite end portions, and wherein said recesses have a depth substantially double said predetermined depth in the region of at least one of said end portions.
 7. Toy building kit as defined in claim 1, wherein said track member is flexible.
 8. Toy building kit as defined in claim 1, wherein said track member consists at least in part of electrically conductive material.
 9. Toy building kit as defined in claim 1, wherein at least said building block located at said upper side has at least one exposed face provided with a plurality of teeth.
 10. Toy building kit as defined in claim 9, wherein said building block located at said upper side has additional exposed faces also provided with a plurality of teeth.
 11. Toy building kit as defined in claim 1; and further comprising at least one electrical conductor on at least one of said building blocks located at said upper and lower sides, respectively. 